The sweaters and the shakers

The Bars Luke Shay followed up his 5 for 24 with a quick fire 19 to seal victory against Marist Brothers on Saturday at Oakes Oval. In this picture we find him amusing Brothers keeper Luke Collings with an over-cooked cut shot.

Like a cruising shark Southern Districts slipped by Easts into the lead of the Private Life one-day competition after the Waratahs were keel-hauled by the Pirates in Lennox Head. In what must be the upset of the year the last-placed Lennox Head boys put on 171 in their 40 overs then rolled the competition leaders for 162. Recently promoted second mate Travis Clark wielded his cutlass to produce 43n.o and then throttled the Lismore land-lubbers with his accurate off-spinners to take 2 for 30 in an excellent all round buccaneering effort. First mate Mark Duncan took 4 for 24 with his in-swingers to seal the win.

On a more serious note, the Lennox Head wicket was vandalised yet again. This time their covers were stolen, cut in half and dragged into the sea. Although the wrecked covers have been reclaimed maybe they should be contemplating keel-hauling more than just their cricketing opponents?!

The other seismic shifts in the competition tables occurred at Oakes Oval on Saturday when The Bar stumbled, then surged home to victory over Marist Brothers to force their way past the Brethren into the top four. The Bars young opener Kane Hamilton batted exceptionally for his 71 to set up the victory and Luke Shay and Scott Hodgen went after the bowling late in the day to seal the three wicket win.

As expected the Casino Cavaliers have surged back into contention for a finals finish in both forms of the game after trampling the Hawks in Casino on Saturday and marching over the top of Alstonville at Wollongbar on Sunday. Sam Irvine returned from his NSW Country representative duties to lead the charge scoring 72 on Saturday and 71 on Sunday.

Although Brothers were tumbled out of the top four in the Hooker League on Saturday, they fought back on Sunday pushing past Ballina Bears for a spot in the top four of the Byron Bay Private Life one-dayers. The Bears had easily dismissed Alstonville on Saturday to sure up a finals finish in the Hooker league but their weekend went sour on Heaps Oval the next day.

Meanwhile Workers Club hung on for grim death after being mauled by Souths on Saturday at Nesbitt Park, to stave off the outright. The Maroons managed only 66 in their first innings but thanks to a backs to the wall 68n.o. from captain courageous Michael Knight, Souths were denied the extra points.